Land grid array connector assembly

ABSTRACT

An land grid array (LGA) connector assembly comprises an insulative frame, a plurality of contacts received in the insulative frame, a reinforcement covering a circumference of the insulative frame, a clip assembled on the reinforcement and a lever mounted to the reinforcement and engaging with the clip. The clip is formed with a pivotal portion pivotally assembled on the reinforcement. The pivotal portion has at least one stopping portion on a edge thereof, the stopping portion is extending towards the insulative frame and abuts against the insulative frame to prevent the clip from moving flatly when the clip is in a close position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to land grid array (LGA) connectorassembly, and particularly to an LGA connector assembly adapted forreceiving an LGA central processing unit (CPU) therein and electricallyconnecting the CPU to a printed circuit board (PCB).

2. Description of Related Art

Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional LGA connector assembly 8 adapted forelectrically connecting with an LGA CPU 100 comprises an insulatingframe 82 receiving a plurality of contacts 81, a reinforcement 83assembled on the insulative frame 82, a clip 84 and a lever 86 pivotallymounted to the reinforcement 83 respectively. The clip 84 has a pivotalportion 87 engaging with a latching portion 89 formed on thereinforcement 83, and the lever 86 has a driving portion 85 for pressingagainst the clip 84. During a rotating of the lever 86 towards theinsulative frame 82, the driving portion 85 of the lever 86 brings theclip 84 pressing against the CPU 100, then the CPU 100 electricallyconnects with the contacts 81 received in the insulative frame 82.

Referring to FIG. 2, during the process of the clip 84 rotating from anopen position to a close position relative to the insulative frame 82,the pivotal portion 87 of the clip 84 moves outwardly. When the drivingportion 85 presses the clip 84, the latching portion 89 of thereinforcement 83 will give a counterforce on the pivotal portion 87 andbring the clip 84 moving away from the latching portion 89. If the clip84 moves unduly, the CPU 100 is pushed to strike a sidewall of theinsulative frame 82. That may cause that sidewall of the insulativeframe 82 to be damaged or a pressing force of the clip 84 on the CPU 100to be not enough, so that the contacts 81 especially the contacts 81 inthe corner 88 can not contact with the CPU 100 reliably. And due to afriction between the CPU 100 and the sidewall of the insulative frame82, the CPU 100 may not be in a right position which is needed in anormal working state, so that a pressing point and the pressing force ofthe clip 84 are not steady, that will influence a normal working of theCPU 100.

Hence, an improved LGA connector assembly is required to overcome thedisadvantages of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a land grid array (LGA)connector assembly, which can get a well electrically connecting with aLGA central processing unit (CPU).

Another object of the present invention is to provide a LGA connectorassembly, which can decrease a friction between the CPU and aninsulative frame of the LGA connector.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a LGA connectorassembly, which can prevent the CPU from being damaged due to excessivemovement.

Accordingly, to achieve above-mentioned object, a land grid array (LGA)connector assembly in accordance with the present invention is adaptedfor electrically connecting with an LGA central processing unit (CPU),the LGA connector assembly comprises an insulative frame, a plurality ofcontacts received in the insulative frame, a reinforcement covering acircumference of the insulative frame, a clip assembled on thereinforcement and a lever mounted to the reinforcement and engaging withthe clip. The clip is formed with a pivotal portion pivotally engagingwith the reinforcement. The pivotal portion has at least one stoppingportion on a edge thereof abutting against the insulative frame toprevent the clip from moving flatly.

The stopping portion of the clip can prevent the CPU from moving unduly,and decrease a friction between the CPU and a sidewall of the insulativeframe near the lever. Such arrangement makes the CPU be pressed enoughand ensures that the CPU will electrical contact with the contacts ofthe LGA connector assembly reliably. Furthermore, this arrangement canreform the problem that a pressing point and a pressing force of theclip are not steady.

The detailed features of the present invention will be apparent in thedetailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional land grid array(LGA) connector assembly and a LGA central processing unit (CPU);

FIG. 2 is an assembled perspective view of the LGA connector assemblyand the CPU of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of an LGA connector assembly andthe CPU in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an assembled perspective view of the LGA connector assemblyand the CPU of the FIG. 3, wherein the LGA connector assembly is in anopen position;

FIG. 5 is another assembled perspective view of the LGA connectorassembly and the CPU of the FIG. 3, wherein the LGA connector assemblyis in a close position;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of another LGA connector assemblyand the CPU in another embodiment in accordance with the presentinvention;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 3-5, a land grid array (LGA) connector assembly inaccordance with the present invention is adapted for electricallyconnecting an LGA central processing unit (CPU) 60 with a printedcircuit board (PCB) (not shown).

The LGA connector assembly comprises an insulative frame 10, a pluralityof contacts 12 received in the insulative frame 10, a reinforcement 20covering a circumference of the insulative frame 10, a lever 30 and aclip 40 pivotally mounted to two opposite ends of the reinforcement 20respectively.

The insulative frame 10 has an electric portion 14 in a center thereofwith a mating face 15 in a top surface, a plurality of projections 18 ona bottom surface thereof and a guiding portion 19 located outside asidewall thereof. The electric portion 14 is provided with a pluralityof passages 16 for receiving corresponding contacts 12. Each contact 12has an engaging portion (not labeled) extending beyond the mating face15 to electrically connect with corresponding electrical pad (not shown)of the CPU 60 and a soldering portion (not shown) soldering on the PCB.

The lever 30 formed by bending a threadlike metal haulm several timescomprises an operating portion 32 and a locating portion 34perpendicular to the operating portion 32. The operating portion 32 isformed with a handle portion 33 bended from a free end thereof, and thelocating portion 34 is formed with an driving portion 35 at a centerthereof.

The clip 40 is stamped and formed from a sheet of metallic material andformed a frame structure defining a space at a center thereof. The clip40 comprise two opposite sides 41, 42, the side 41 is formed with anextending portion 411 extending outwardly from a middle part of anoutside edge thereof, the side 42 is formed with a pair of symmetricalpivotal portions 421 with an arc cross section and a position portion422 disposed between the pair of the pivotal portions 421 all extendingoutwardly from an outside edge thereof. The clip 40 is bended towardsthe insulative frame 10 at a central section thereof between theopposite sides 41, 42 to form an inverted arch figure with a pressingportion 43 protruding to the insulative frame 10. In use, the pressingportions 43 of the clip 40 is contactting with the CPU 60, when thedriving portion 35 of the lever 30 presses the clip 40 downwardly, thepressing portions 43 of the clip 40 is brought to press the CPU 60downwardly to make the CPU 60 electrically abut against the contacts 12of the LGA connector assembly firmly. The metal clip 40 has a pair ofhooked stopping portion 424 integrative with the pivotal portion 421,the stopping portions 424 are formed on a rear edge of the pivotalportion 421 near the side 42 of the metal clip 40 and bended towardsinsulative frame 10. The stopping portions 424 are symmetrical and bothformed on an outboard or an inboard of corresponding pivotal portion421, or even the pivotal portion 421 is formed with a plurality ofstopping portions 424 both on the outboard and the inboard thereof.

The reinforcement 20 comprises a rectangular bottom plate (not labeled)with a rectangular gap (not labeled) and four sidewalls extendingupwardly from each edge of the bottom plate (not labeled). The sidewallscomprise a first sidewall 22 and a second sidewall 24 opposed to thefirst sidewall 22. The first sidewall 22 is formed with a pair of slots221 engaging with the pivotal portion 421 of the clip 40 to pivotallyassemble the clip 40 to the reinforcement 20. The second sidewall 24 isformed with a pair of inflexed blocking pieces 241 on a edge thereof anda driving piece 242 formed by bending a part of one of the blockingpieces 241. The blocking pieces 241, the driving 242 and the bottomplate define a space together to receive the locating portion 34 of thelever 30. Another sidewall of the reinforcement 20 near the operatingportion 32 of the lever 30 is formed with a flange 243 to lock the lever30. The reinforcement 20 further has a plurality of notches 26 on edgesof the bottom plate to engaging with the projections 18 of theinsulative frame 10.

In assembling the LGA connector assembly, the clip 40 and the lever 30are pivotally mounted on the first sidewall 22 and the second sidewall24 of the reinforcement 20 respectively, then the clip 40 is set at anopen position relative to the reinforcement 20, the insulative frame 10is put into the reinforcement 20 firmly by an engagement of theprojections 18 thereof and the notches 26 of the reinforcement 20,simultaneity, the insulative frame 10 is surrounded by the sidewalls ofthe reinforcement 20.

In use, the LGA connector assembly is mounted to and electricallyconnected with the PCB. The clip 40 and the handle portion 33 of thelever 30 are each oriented perpendicular to the insulative frame 10,with the driving portion 35 disposed above the locating portion 34. TheCPU 60 is received in the insulative frame 10 with metallic contact padsthereof loosely attaching on the corresponding contacts 12, at this timethe stopping portions 424 of the clip 40 do not touch anything, thatmeans the clip 40 can rotate freely at that position. And then the clip40 is rotated downwardly to a horizontal position, following, theoperating portion 32 of the lever 30 is rotated downwardly to anapproximately horizontal position. When the driving portion 35 of thelever 30 reaches the extending portion 411 of the clip 40, the drivingportion 35 drives the clip 40 downwardly by pressing the extendingportion 411, that causes the pressing portion 43 of the clip 40 to pressthe CPU 60 downwardly and bring the electrical pads of the CPU 60elastic colliding with the contacts 12. Finally the operating portion 32is engaged under and locked by the flange 243 of the reinforcement 20,the driving portion 35 is fastened in a horizontal position and keepsthe electrical pads of the CPU 60 elastic colliding with the contacts 12tightly.

During the operating portion 32 of the lever being locked by the flange243, the pivotal portion 421 of the clip 40 rotates along the guidingportion 19 of the insulative frame 10, and the clip 40 will move towardsthe driving portion 35 of the lever 30, that may also bring the CPU 60moving together, but the clip 40 will not move unduly due to a existenceof the stopping portions 424, the stopping portions 424 abut against theguiding portion 19 of the insulative frame 10 to prevent the CPU 60 fromcrushing or even damaging a sidewall of the insulative frame 10, and thestopping portion also decrease a friction between the CPU 60 and thesidewall of the insulative frame 10, so that the CPU 60 can electricallyconnect with the contacts 12 located at corners 17 of the insulativeframe 10 reliably.

Referring to FIGS. 6, it shows another embodiment of an land grid array(LGA) connector assembly in accordance with the present invention. Thedifference between this LGA connector assembly and the above LGAconnector assembly is a bended direction of the hooked stopping portions424′ of the metal clip 40, the hooked stopping portions 424′ areextending from an lateral side of the pivotal portion 421 and bendedtowards insulative frame 10 to abut against the insulative frame 10 whenthe clip 40 is in a close position.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerouscharacteristics and advantages of the present invention have been setforth in the foregoing description, together with details of thestructure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrativeonly, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape,size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention tothe full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms inwhich the appended claims are expressed.

1. An electrical connector comprising: an insulating frame; a pluralityof contacts received in the insulative frame; a reinforcement covering acircumference of the insulative frame; a clip assembled on an end of thereinforcement and formed with at least one pivotal portion pivotallyengaging with the reinforcement; a lever mounted to the other end of thereinforcement opposed to the clip and engaging with the clip to keep theclip in a horizontal position; wherein the pivotal portion of the cliphas at least one stopping portion on a edge thereof abutting against theinsulative frame to prevent the clip from moving flatly.
 2. Theelectrical connector as described in claim 1, wherein the clip has twopivotal portions each formed with a stopping portion.
 3. The electricalconnector as described in claim 2, wherein the insulative frame has aguiding portion opposite the pivotal portions of the clip, and thestopping portion is formed on a side of the clip near the guidingportion.
 4. The electrical connector as described in claim 2, whereinthe two stopping portions are disposed symmetrically.
 5. The electricalconnector as described in claim 4, wherein the two stopping portions areboth formed on an outboard of corresponding pivotal portions.
 6. Theelectrical connector as described in claim 4, wherein the two stoppingportions are both formed on an inboard of corresponding pivotalportions.
 7. The electrical connector as described in claim 5, whereineach stopping portion is hooked and bended towards the insulative frame.8. The electrical connector as described in claim 1, wherein eachstopping portion is integrative with corresponding pivotal portion. 9.The electrical connector as described in claim 1, wherein thereinforcement has a pair of slots engaging with corresponding pivotalportions of the clip.
 10. The electrical connector as described in claim1, wherein the lever has an operating portion and a locating portionwith a driving portion at a center thereof for pressing the clip.
 11. Anelectrical connector comprising: an insulating frame; a plurality ofcontacts received in the insulative frame; a reinforcement attached tothe insulative frame; a clip assembled on an end of the reinforcementand formed with at least one curved pivotal portion pivotally engagingwith the reinforcement; a lever mounted to the other end of thereinforcement opposite to the clip and engaging with the clip to keepthe clip in a horizontal position; wherein the pivotal portion of theclip has at least one stopping portion abutting against the insulativeframe to prevent the clip from moving toward the frame when the clip islocated in the horizontal position and the lever presses a distallocking end of the clip.
 12. The connector as claimed in claim 11,wherein said pivotal portion further includes another stopping portionto prevent the clip from moving away from the frame when the clip islocated in the horizontal position and the lever presses a distallocking end of the clip.
 13. The connector as claimed in claim 12,wherein said another stopping portion abuts against said end of thereinforcement when said clip is located in the horizontal position. 14.The connector as claimed in claim 13, said the end of the reinforcementdefines a slot generally snugly receiving said pivotal portion therein,and said another stopping portion essentially extends laterally from alateral side of the pivotal portion and can not extend through saidslot.
 15. The connector as claimed in claim 14, wherein said stoppingportion and said another stopping portion are connected to each other ina lengthwise direction along which said end and said other end of thereinforcement are defined.
 16. An electrical connector comprising: aninsulating frame; a plurality of contacts received in the insulativeframe; a reinforcement attached to the insulative frame; a clipassembled on an end of the reinforcement and formed with at least onecurved pivotal portion pivotally engaging with the reinforcement; alever mounted to the other end of the reinforcement opposite to the clipand engaging with the clip to keep the clip in a horizontal position;wherein the pivotal portion of the clip has at least one stoppingportion laterally extending from the pivotal portion and abuttingagainst the end of the reinforcement to prevent the clip from movingaway from the frame when the clip is located in the horizontal positionand the lever downwardly presses a distal locking end of the clip.